#FFB: Amos Wolff
Amos and I had a hilarious first interaction of trying to sort out whether or not we had met before. We hadn't but we're definitely long lost friends and more specifically, long lost yogis. We immediately bonded during his photo shoot over all things yoga after both being certified this year. We dove into conversation about the amazing mental, physical, and spiritual aspects of yoga and agreed that yoga is an amazing compliment to performing. I'm so excited to take a yoga class from him or with him! He understands the importance of balance and joy inside and outside of the performance world which is why Amos is Fit for Broadway.
BIO: Hey! I’m Amos. I grew up in the Hudson Valley, about 45 minutes north of the city. After graduating high school in 2003, I took a gap-year before attending the musical theater program at The University of Michigan. Right out of school, I toured the country with A CHORUS LINE and SOUTH PACIFIC, before making my broadway debut with FOLLIES, followed by CHICAGO and am currently playing Sandamir, a Russian singing instructor in GIGI. I’m also a certified yoga instructor and am working on continuing my education at Laughing Lotus Yoga Center in Chelsea.
Q: So excited to have you on Fit for Broadway, Amos. I love that we share a love for yoga and congrats on finishing your certification! How did you first get into fitness?
A: I’ve always been a really active person. As a child being outdoors in nature, hiking or swimming or sailing was just what my family did for fun. My mother is a choreographer so I was in a constant state of movement. But a big turning point was when I chose to take dance classes over baseball, setting me on the trajectory that got me to where I am now.
I started practicing yoga as an alternative to dance class in middle school, and practiced off and on through college. Once I moved to NYC I began practicing more regularly, first at YogaToThePeople, then at various studios around the city until I found my home at Laughing Lotus. After practicing there for about a year, and falling in love with the community and the joy that Dana and all of the teachers there bring to the center, I signed up for the 200-hour certification program which I completed in December.
Q: How has the spiritual side of yoga influenced your life in general and specifically as a performer?
A: Yoga is a tricky mistress. She seduces you into coming to your mat for the physical attributes: strength, flexibility, toned muscles, to name a few. But somewhere along the way, maybe it’s when you take your first really big breath of the day, or rising up slowly after the final savanasa (“corpse pose”), you find your mental state has been slightly altered. That “yoga high” is like a gateway drug, and at least for me I started getting more and more drawn into the way that yogis interact with the world around them.
Yoga encourages us to be present in the moment, by tapping into breath and an activity, allowing all the useless chatter of the mind to fade away. That process is exactly what we are trying to achieve as actors.
Q: How would you describe your fitness routine and how does it complement performing?
A: I haven’t taken a dance class in a very long time; yoga has become the way I maintain my body for an eight-show week. I practice in the morning at home for at least 20 minutes when I first wake up. It’s a great way to get the day started, it warms up the body, the breath, and centers me for whatever tasks are in front of me for the day.
Q: You told me your introduction to yoga came about through a really tough time in your life. Can you elaborate on that?
A: Back in 2012 I had a pretty public nervous breakdown. This is a really tough business. I had been very successful, very quickly and was pushing myself way too hard, trying to climb an impossible ladder of success I had created for myself. I took a couple months away and while I was re-cooping, I found that yoga held great solace for me. My mat was a safe space for me to fail, something that I had to get to terms with if I was going to perform again. Yoga, and a really good therapist, helped me explore a lot of the emotional and mental walls I had constructed to protect myself. As I slowly chip away at all of obstacles keeping me from being joyful and happy, I find that the same walls I built to protect, confine me instead of supporting me. And ironically, or maybe not, I now find that I am far more successful and grateful for opportunities as both a performer and a human being.
Q: Do you follow a specific diet?
A: I wish I could say that I was a good vegetarian yogi, but I crave the protein I get from meat, so instead I’ll say I’m trying to eat less meat. I like to cook for myself, both because then I know where my food is coming from and because it’s fun. I joined a CSA, so I’ll be getting fresh veggies and fruits all summer from Windflower Farms!
Note from Jane: I had no idea what a CSA was so I looked it up and this is seriously awesome... "CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture. When you become a member of a CSA, you’re purchasing a “share” of vegetables from a regional farmer. Weekly or bi-weekly, from June until October or November, your farmer will deliver that share of produce to a convenient drop-off location in your neighborhood." How amazing is that!! Sign me up!! Read more HERE
Q: What is your favorite energy-boosting snack/meal?
A: I’ve been really into avocado toast recently. Mash some avocado up with some salt and pepper and chili flakes on some multi-grain toast. Really nice with a soothing mango or papaya juice.
Q: What is your best advice/strategies for body & self-confidence?
A: I try to sweat once a day. That can be a long walk with my dog, a work-out at the gym or even doing a home improvement project around the house. That’s something that makes me feel good. I think body confidence comes from knowing what makes you feel good. That you are working to look, and more importantly, feel your best. Self-confidence really does comes from within. I’m much more drawn to someone who is grounded in who they are than their impressive abs. That’s why I love that this blog is called “Fit” for Broadway. There are so many great ways to feel your “fittest” without plastering an image of what that’s supposed to look like.
Q: Who or what inspires you?
A: I am constantly inspired by my best friend from college Michael. We got certified at different yoga studios around the same time, and it’s been amazing to have someone to turn to for support and encouragement as we explore our paths down this yoga journey. He embodies so many of the qualities we as yogis, and human beings, strive for and he’s a wonderful teacher. Check out his class at Modo Yoga!
Q: What is your advice for those trying to perform on Broadway?
A: I get asked this a lot and my answer has changed over the years, but here goes. I think the thing that people don’t stress enough is that it’s a different lifestyle than most other professions. There is constant change, and you life can be uprooted for a great opportunity in a moments notice. Being a performer is really not about the 2 1/2 hours you’re performing onstage—it’s about how you stay grounded and happy the remaining twenty something hours of the day.
